Dealing with stage nerves

SccHarpGirl · 05-14-2004, 07:46 PM

Just kind of curious to see how other performers on CGR (Actors, musicians, etc) dealt with nerves when performing in front of a large group of people--tips, tricks, what worked, what didn't, etc

TheaterGeek · 05-14-2004, 09:10 PM

i always get really really nervous before i perform, whether its in the big yearly musical, a speech meet, in a dinky chapel play, or rehearsing for my parents. before i perform, i usually listen to some sort of broadway cd to get me in the acting mood - my friend made me a great mix cd of all my favorite songs but it got scratched up so now i listen to cast recordings of my favorite shows. if i have time i'll listen to the whole cd but if i'm rushed (like i usually am) i listen to two or three songs. i never ever eat before i go on stage, i cant stand having anything in my stomach while i act. i'm always really hungry afterwards.

i also have my friend jessica pray for me. it really calms me down and helps me focus. although i'll have to find a new prayer person since shes graduating this year.

then i run through my first few lines, take a deep breath, and wait for my cue.

hope that helps!

SccHarpGirl · 05-14-2004, 11:11 PM

I always like taking a moment to say a quick prayer right before I start...not anything really obvious, but just a moment with my eyes shut collecting my thoughts and stuff...then taking a deep breath and just going for it.

I also found that trying to ignore the audience always failed...what works for me is trying to include them, or just acknowledging the situation and embracing it, rather than trying to change it.

Chris · 05-16-2004, 01:52 AM

definitely trying to ignore the audience only causes you to concentrate on them more. Whenever I had a solo I always would take some deep breaths, jump up and down a few times and actually look at the people. And above all I remembered that it's supposed to be fun.

**H.M. Murdock** · 05-16-2004, 03:19 PM

I have entire, detailed conversations with imaginary people, in my mind. And I fidget. But since the closest I come to "performing" is debate and the individual events that that requires, I am nervous for weeks in advance, since debate is a very impromptu event for the speaker position I am in (2nd position).

Merin · 05-16-2004, 06:18 PM

When I perform (piano) I sit down, think about my piece, and take a deep breath. Taking a few seconds to compose myself makes all the difference in the world. Once I start playing, the audience just kinda fades away.

Jonodude · 05-16-2004, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merin

When I perform (piano) I sit down, think about my piece, and take a deep breath. Taking a few seconds to compose myself makes all the difference in the world. Once I start playing, the audience just kinda fades
away.

That usually happens for me. Usually I just get so caught up in playing that I forget that people are listening.

theRat · 05-18-2004, 10:41 AM

Well, I don't have stage nerves. I used to dance, and ride horses. And I can't recall ever being nervous. I think it is entirely fear of man. "What if I make a foold of myself. What if I mess up?" I just up and decided I wasn't going to worry about it. If I messed up it was more than likely that no one would notice, and if they did--so what? Everyone messes up. I'm not shy, but my sister is and she gets very nervous before a dance performance...part of it is fear of man, and part of it is just..."oh my gosh..people are looking at me!" One way to work through that is just to focus whatever it is you're doing on God. If it's entirely for him then it cuts back on nerves.

Umm..that's all.

**slap_j** · 05-18-2004, 11:15 AM

I find that the more you play in front of big crowds the less nervous you are. That is the only thing that worked for me. I was really nervous the first time I played in front of a crowd and now it's no big deal. I also prefer large crowds to intimate settings (although the largest crowd I've ever played for was only 700 or 800 large, haha).

Travis · 05-18-2004, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCCHarpGirl

Just kind of curious to see how other performers on CGR (Actors, musicians, etc) dealt with nerves when performing in front of a large group of people--tips, tricks, what worked, what didn't, etc

Take up smoking.

danalyn · 06-14-2004, 01:01 AM

I don't seem to get nervous anymore... which somewhat worries me. My vocal teacher used to say she worried if her pupils weren't nervous. Also, a boy from our praise team said a week or 2 ago, "If you don't get nervous, you're not human."
anyhow, I eat lightly ((which, like someone else said, makes me ravenous when I'm done))... definately do the deep, calming breathing thing... and generally ignore the audience. Either that, or find someone in the crowd who's really into what's going. That's always encouraging...

God's Jedi · 06-14-2004, 01:11 AM

It depends on what I'm doing. If I'm doing a skit/play, I just remember that all the nerves go away when I'm actually DOING the skit/play. It's just the waiting that is nerve racking. If I'm playing guitar, I pretend that I'm Hendrix in front of all those British people, and then I'm ok. 'Till I remember that I'm right handed. And I'm only playing rythm electric. And I'm white. And if I'm doing a piano recital, I accept the fact that I'm going to screw up somehow and think of something funny to say when I do.

Thespia · 06-14-2004, 01:32 AM

If you know your stuff...and are ready to go out there and do it...its more of a rush than a terror.

Chris · 06-14-2004, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thespia

If you know your stuff...and are ready to go out there and do it...its more of a rush than a terror.

definitely.

**beanbag** · 07-05-2004, 07:58 PM

when I'm doing a guitar performance, I usually pace around the music hallway for a while, talk to people backstage, pray, and remind myself that if my teacher has enough confidence in me to have me play in front of an audience other than my classmates, I should have confidence in me, too. plus, since I almost always wear skirts, I curtsey instead of bowing, and that always makes the audience laugh a little (because I don't do it very seriously) and relieves the tension.

when I had do to vocal performances in class, I concentrated on my teacher and impressing him, not anyone else..it also helped to remind myself that everyone else was in the same boat as me. when I had an audition that involved singing, I just closed my eyes and reminded myself how fun it was to be back on the stage.

as for making speeches..I don't get nervous over that at all.